Thursday, March 26, 2009

First line: Dragons and dragon myths are ubiquitous in world history and culture.

Why you should read this book: It's exactly what it claims to be: a beautifully illustrated collection of dragon myths from ancient to medieval, grouped by region of the world, first eastern, then western. Most of the illustrations derive from historical sources and are reproduced in loving detail. A fairly basic overview.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You're not a dragon-obsessed otherkin who compulsively collects dragon artifacts.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

First line: I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975.

Why you should read this book: Amir would do anything to earn the unconditional love of his respected but distant father, including the sacrifice of his servant and best friend, Hassan, a boy so faithful that he would eat dirt, and worse, for Amir. Their youthful bonds divided, Amir flees to America with his father when the Russians invade Afghanistan, while the less privileged Hassan stays behind in the war-torn country. Amir's story is one of terror and secrets, pain and guilt, along with the slim, glass-sharp thread of redemption that is offered to those who must make restitution for unspoken evil.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You've done things--terrible things--to those who loved and trusted you, and you have dreams--terrible dreams--and remorse that haunt you without relent.

Friday, March 13, 2009

First line: Coraline discovered the door a little while after they moved into the house.

Why you should read this book: Even though the mice upstairs warn her not to go through (at least that's what the strange man upstairs claims the mice said), and the strange women on the other side of the house believe she's in grave danger, Coraline uses a broom to knock the keys down and opens that forbidden door. On the other side, she finds a skewed mirror world, where everyone is very interested in making her life interesting, and a strange copy of her mother promises to love her and play with her forever if only she lets Coraline sew shiny black buttons onto her eyes. In the grand tradition of children's fantasy, Coraline must outwit the enemy and find her own way home, or risk her life and her soul in a shadowy world.

Why you shouldn't read this book: Fear of rats. Fear of things that scuttle around looking kind of like spiders and kind of like human hands with really long nails. Fear of losing ones family and being adored by a monster that will swallow your soul. Fear of having buttons sewn onto ones eyes.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

First line: I would never have sold him the car in the first place if I'd known what he was going to do with it.

Why you should read this book: Joseph Cooper sold the cowboy that blue Volvo in good faith, and promises to fix it for free after it breaks down the very next day, but when he realizes that the breakdown happened in the middle of the cowboy's suicide attempt, he's thrown into a life-changing journey that will force him to confront his own, long-avoided issues. He hasn't had sex since his wife ran off with the wife of one of his hockey buddies, he's a workaholic mechanic who rarely leaves the shop, he blames himself for his father's death, and even his own mother can't communicate with him. Armed only with the beautiful, heirloom cello he took in trade for the Volvo, Joseph heads for the city, on a mission of mercy to save a cowboy he doesn't know, and instead comes to see that there's a vast, wide world outside the confines of his garage.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Why you should read this book: Rick Morales is not thrilled about moving from San Diego to Tucson, until the arrival of a temporary replacement for their ancient furnace in the form of an acerbic dragon with a dubious definition of the word "safe". Along with his neighbor Natalie and her tag-along little brother, Rick and the fire-breathing Madam Yang travel through time, space, and reality, narrowly escaping disaster at every turn. This is a story about acceptance, action, change, and growth, just right for middle-school students.

Who is this Dragon character, anyway?

I am a professional writer/starving artist. I read consummately and indiscriminately. I read books to kids in elementary school. I read books for research. I read books to expand my horizons. I reread books I enjoyed as a kid. And, like a mountain climber, sometimes I just read a book because it's there. Feel free to contact me with offers of paying work as a writer, editor, or tutor as well as questions about literature, education, and writing.

FAQs

The intention was to create a record of every book that I read. I wish I'd had the idea about twenty-five years ago, but better late than never.

What's the deal with all those Amazon links?

Dragon's Library is a real, live Amazon affiliate site. Go ahead! Click those links. You can buy any book on this site (heck, you can buy any book in the world) directly from a trusted source. [Disclosure: I get 4% of the sales. Please buy a book and help support a struggling artist.]

How do you choose books?

Years of reading to elementary kids has given me a good sense of what kids respond to. I only review children's books if both my students and I enjoyed them. Otherwise, I favor speculative fiction, classic literature, and non-fiction books about science. However, I have been known to read just about anything.

Will you review my book (or a book I like, or a book I am publicizing)?

Yes. Yes, I will. I will review pretty much anything you send me, provided it does not suck. I do not review books I don't enjoy. If I like it well enough to finish it, it will appear on this site. Email me for further details.

Read to Your Dragonet

Studies show that children who regularly hear books read and see adults reading books have an easier time learning to read. If your children do not realize that books are fun and contain interesting ideas, they will be less motivated to learn how to read and write. Children who do not learn to read and write have difficulty succeeding in school and at life.

Even infants can enjoy books. You can check baby board books out of the library. Your baby will enjoy sitting on your lap as you read the words and point to the brightly colored pictures. If your baby wants to chew on the book, that's OK too.

Toddlers and pre-schoolers should understand how to hold a book (right side up) and how to turn the pages (left to right in English). Even if they're not ready to read, you can help your child prepare for school by teaching them how to talk about the stories they've heard. Pre-schoolers should be able to tell you something about character, setting, conflict, and resolution. After reading a story, prompt your child to tell you who the story was about, where it happened, what the problem was, and how it was solved.

If your grade-school child has difficulty learning to read, you can advocate for them. Your public school district is required to provide special help to kids with learning disabilities. If you suspect your child has dyslexia or some other difficulty in recognizing words, you may have to fight for your child's rights. Your child has the right to be tested by the district to determine the level of his or her disability, and your child has the right to a qualified specialist who can understand the best way for your child to learn. Some districts may be reluctant to pay for the extra help your child needs. Don't give up! Make sure your child gets the help he or she deserves. In America, every child has a right to an education.

You can learn more about children's books at the American Library Association website. Your public library is a great place to introduce your children to books. They will have special programs and incentives for kids of all ages to love reading. In most systems children are entitled to their own library cards from the time they are old enough to write their own names. It's a great way to teach responsibility as well as foster a lifelong love of learning and books.

If you can't get to the library, but you have an Internet connection, you can find many full-text books on-line. For adults, Project Gutenberg offers thousands of full-text books you can download for free.